Players' union warms up to Astros

Association headrecognizes clubis experiencinggrowing pains

Former MLB baseball player and current executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark talks with writers after meeting with San Francisco Giants players in the clubhouse on his first stop to meet with players from all the MLB teams Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Former MLB baseball player and current executive director of the...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Astros likely wouldn't be high on the Major League Baseball Players Association's list of model organizations.

But they might be moving closer to good graces.

The Astros have had one of the game's lowest payrolls since Jim Crane took over in 2011. This winter, though, things perked up, with roughly $20 million more spent, to bring the payroll near $70 million.

Union head Tony Clark acknowledged last week at Astros camp the club appears on the upswing.

Each team is unique

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"I think as much as anything, every club is going to make the decisions that they think they need to make in order to field a product that is going to allow them to be the last team standing," Clark said when asked about the salary increase. "Sometimes, that process takes a little longer than some others, so the idea that they've got a tremendous stable of young talent, you include some guys that have been there, done that, it suggests that there's a plan in place and a light at the end of this rainbow with respect to what they're trying to accomplish, not just in the near term, but in the longer term.

"So we keep an eye on everybody. Obviously, we're always interested to at least appreciate what it is a club's trying to do, and Houston's no different."

The way the Astros have handled contract extensions and promotions has drawn attention from the union in the past.

While the team struggled terribly in 2013, the front office did not promote a minor league outfielder who was having a historically good season, George Springer, so that he would be further away from free agency.

Springer turned down a contract extension offer that would have landed him in the big leagues immediately. Steps that eventually could have led to a grievance hearing were taken on his behalf ahead of his April 2014 promotion to the big leagues, people familiar with the situation told the Chronicle.

First baseman Jon Singleton last summer signed a contract before spending a day in the major leagues and was promoted to the majors once that deal was finalized. That timing suggested the possibility he needed to sign the contract to be promoted when he did - but Singleton's performance in 2014 suggested that at least in the short term, he made the right decision by ensuring his financial security.

"We are supportive of every opportunity a player has to sign a contract," Clark said. "All we ever ask is that the player is as educated as he can be on all the different moving pieces that may enter that conversation.

"But no, we think it's great, and we also think it's a testament to how well the industry is doing that clubs are being willing more and more to make those commitments to guys who are younger and younger.

Each player is unique

"The concern there is if a guy signs a contract for reasons other than him believing that it's a good contract for him to sign. So he will always have that decision to make, and we have a tremendous agent group that educates the guys, and we have our responsibility in educating the players and the agents to make sure that literally they understand all the moving pieces. So no, if at the end of the day players are signing contracts that they are comfortable with, they believe is reflective of where they are and the concerns they have, that's fine."

Free-agent pitcher Ryan Vogelsong in January made comments about how he was not made to feel comfortable by the Astros during a courtship process. But Vogelsong didn't elaborate.

Vogelsong incident

CBSSports.com this month reported the Astros attempted to change a deal with Vogelsong following a medical evaluation.

Such an alteration happens commonly in baseball but doesn't usually produce player complaints if those changes are justified. Between Vogelsong and draft pick pitcher Brady Aiken, there have been two situations where the Astros and the player have had public conflicts regarding the team's medical evaluation.

"Aware, yes, involved, no," Clark said of the Vogelsong matter. "So in other words, our fundamental responsibility is making sure the players' rights are protected so any time there is something that suggests that may not have happened, we're part of the conversation.

"Sometimes we're overtly part of the conversation, sometimes we're simply supportive of what may be going on. So we were aware. Ryan landed on his feet. But we were aware."

Vogelsong signed with the Giants.

With everything that's happened, does Clark think the Astros are bad citizens in the baseball world?

"As much as anything, they're continuing to acclimate," Clark said. "I know the owner and the groups that have been here are settling in.

"So I think in the grand scheme of things, everyone has functioned in the capacity that they believe they've needed to. And sometimes that lends itself to some dialogue, sometimes none, sometimes more.

"We'll continue to watch, again as I mentioned earlier, whether it's Houston or whether it's anybody else, making sure that the players' rights and interests are protected."

Mistakes made

The notion of acclimating has been mentioned by Crane. He has acknowledged mistakes Luhnow and ownership have made.

"I think everybody has a little better understanding today," Crane said at the start of spring training this season. "I told them (the team), we went, the ownership went through some rookie moves, and no more rookie moves.